对中国弦乐器起源的考察与认识

To Investigate and Aware of the Chinese String Instruments

中国弦乐器在民族乐器中占有重要地位,探索其起源是中国音乐史学与乐器学的基本论题之一。留存至今的古代文献典籍中对弦乐器起源的载述不足为据,从考古学的视角观察,以琴瑟为代表的中国弦乐器应为中国南方楚文化遗存。作为齐特(Zither)类弦乐器,与我们普遍认为的由狩猎工具——弓弦演变而成的以弓形竖琴为代表的弦乐器有着本质的区别,中国弦乐器西来说暂无可靠依据,其产生与发展必然经历了一个相当漫长的历史演化过程,绝非一蹴而就。

The Chinese string instruments occupy an important position in the national musical instru ments, and that to explore their origin is one of basic topics both in Chinese music history and musical instruments. The existed ancient document on the origin of string instruments not much thus could prove nothing. That Qin and Se, however, from the viewpoint of archaeological, representative of the string instruments in China should he remains of the Chu culture in South of China. As the string instruments of Zither kinds, they are totally different from the arch instruments representative of the string ones, which considered popularly being derivate from bowstring of hunting tools. Therefore, there was no reliable evidence to support the Chi- nese string instruments come from the West, their form and evolution should be a long historical progress, and definitely not be done overnight.